Glass holder for head protective equipment



March 17, 1953 E. B. MAiLLART GLASS HOLDER FOR HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Filed June 21, l90

INVENTOR.

L'dmond Ma i/hZr-t Patented Mar. 17, 1953 GLASS HOLDER Foe. near) enorsorivs EQUKPMENT.

Edmond B. Maillart, Media, 2a., assignor to The Fibre-Metal Products Company, Chester, Pa a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application June-21, 1950, Serial No. 169,333

(oi. as)

1 Claims.

The present invention relates to a glass holder for head protective, equipment and is concerned primarily with a glass holder that is intended to be assembled in the face shield of a welders helmet.

At the present time the conventional welders helmet includes a face shield that. is made of an appropriate fibrous composition and is formed with a window opening. Mounted in this window opening is a glass holder which ordinarily includes a pane of clear glass that is mounted. in the main frame of the holder and a hingedly mounted auxiliary frame which carries the ray filter either with or without a pane of clear glass.

The present invention is concerned primarily with improvements in the main frame itself as well as the-manner in which the pane of the clear glass is mounted therein for easy .and quick removal.

From the very natureof the type of work which a welder performs, it is highly important that his face be completely insulated from the ouside so that in theevent a live electrode should; come in contact with the exterior of the shield the welder will be properly protected. Because of this requirement it has been the practice to make the entire glass holder of Bakelite, fibrous composition or other material having good electrical insulation properties. It has been generall looked upon as impossible if not impractical to make the glass holder of metal because in the mounting thereof in the window opening portions will be located on the inside where they might contact the wearers face.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view as a highly important object the provision of a glass holder of the type indicated which includes a main frame that is made of metal together with a molded insert of electric insulation material with the molded insert located on the inside of the face shield and the metallic frame on the outside. With such an arrangement substantially all the advantages of a metallic frame are attained and at the same time the welder is properly protected from electrical shocks because of the molded insert on the inside which isthe only part of the glass holder which might possibly come in contact with the wearers face.

In achieving this object the molded insert is properly arranged to assume a position on the inside of the face shield about the window opening. The metallic frame is also arranged to assume a comparable position on the outer face of the face shield. Screw fasteners pass through openings in the outer frame and are threaded into closed sockets in the insert to complete the assembly of the glass holder on the: face shield.

As a practical matter it has been foundnecessary to provide for quickly removing and replacing the pane of clear glass that is mounted in the main frame of the glass holder. Thus, another highly important object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for attaining this end. This object is achieved by providing the outer metallic frame with an inwardly extending flange which defines the window opening therein and againstthe inner face of which the glass pane engages.

The glass pane is pressed into engagement with this flange by a leaf spring that is of rectangular formation and which is of a wide open V shape. The central portion of this spring enases the glass pane while the end portions bear against end portions of the molded insert. The spring and insert are so dimensionedthat either end thereof may be pressed inwardly and then moved outwardly to permit the spring to become clear of the molded insert and thereby release the glass pane.

Various other more detailed objects. and advantages of the invention such. as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will, in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a glass holder for welding helmets which consist essentially of an outer metallic frame and an inner molded insert and which glass holder is adapted to be mounted in the window opening of the face shield of a welders helmet. The metallic frame has an inwardly extending flange which defines the window opening therein and against which a glass pane is pressed by a spring of rectangular formation and shape as a wide open V and which spring is backed by the molded. insert from which it may be quickly released.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view looking from the inside of the face shield of a welders helmet with the glass holder of this invention mounted therein but with the glass pane and holding spring therefor omitted.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken about on the plane represented by the line 2- 2 of Figure ;-and

Figure 3 is a detailed vertical section taken about on the plane represented by the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a corner of the glass holder with the metallic frame and molded insert in an opened out relation.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, a portion of a face shield is designated [0. This face shield I is made from an appropriate fibrous composition which is susceptible o being molded into the required shape and which is now meeting with Widespread use in the field of welders helmets. The face shield 53 is ordinarily curved to conform generally to the shape of the user's head and is formed with a. window opening which is of generally rectangular formation.

A metallic frame is referred to in its entirety by the reference character F. It comprises a base flange H of generally rectangular formation corresponding to the size and shape of the window opening in the face shield l8. This flange H bears against the outer face of the face shield ll] about the window opening. Outstanding from the base flange H are vertical or side walls l2 and horizontal or upper and lower walls !3. The horizontal walls l3 are offset inwardly with respect to the ends of the vertical walls 12 being joined thereto by curved portions M which define notches or recesse at the corners for a purpose to be later described.

Extending inwardly from these walls 12 and i3 is a rectangularly shaped flange !5 which defines a window opening l6 of generally rectangular formation.

A molded insert is referred to in its entirety by the reference character M. It is made of a material having good electrical insulation properties such as an appropriate fibrous composition or may be of a phenol condensation product. The molded insert M has a base flange which is of a rectangular shape corresponding to that of the window opening in the face shield l0 and this flange bears against the inner face of the face shield l0 about this window opening. The base flange of the molded insert M includes horizontally extending portions I1 and vertically extending end portions 18.

The horizontal portions [1 are of course curved to conform to the curvature of the face shield 59 and centrally thereof these horizontally extending portions I! are formed with inclined embossments or thickened portions l9. Each of the end portions I8 is formed with a central recess 20 for a purpose to be later described.

Extending upwardly through the window opening of the face shield l6 and into the metal frame F are vertical side walls 2| which are formed with inwardly extending shoulders 22. These side walls 21 are an integral part of the insert M and are in effect continu'ations of the vertical portions 18 of the base flange.

Also extending through the window opening 7 in the face shield is and into the metal frame F are upper and lower walls 23 which also are integral parts of the molded insert. These walls 23 are cut away at each end as represented by the beveled edges at 24 and top end edge portions 25 which are spaced an appreciable distance from the flange l5 of the metallic frame to provide in effect continuations of the recesses above the shoulder 22.

These end portions 25 of the wall are formed with threaded sockets 26 for a purpose to be later described.

Extending inwardly from the side walls 2| and spaced from the shoulders 22 are end abutments 21 which in effect define the recesses 20. Thus, there is a pair of these end abutments on each side wall 2| with each pair defining one of the recesses 20. The inner faces of the walls 23 are also cut away at their ends to provide in effect continuations of the top faces of the abutments 21 (speaking with reference to the showing of Figure 2). These cutaways are represented by the lines at 28.

The flange 15 of the metallic frame F is formed with an inwardly extending embossment or thickened portion 29 at each corner and this thickened portion is formed with an opening 30 which is in alignment with one of the openings 26.

The upper end of each opening 30 (speaking with reference to the showing of Figure 2) is counterbored to provide for the countersinking of a screwhead therein. A headed screw fastener such as indicated at 32 passes through each opening 30 and is screwed into the threaded socket 26 in alignment therewith. These screw fasteners 32 serve to clamp the edge of the face shield In about the window opening between the base flanges of the metallic frame F and molded insert M respectively. 7

A glass pane is represented at 33. This glass pane bears against the inner face of the flange l5. It is pressed into this engagement by a leaf spring S. The leaf spring S is of rectangular formation and is made up of end members 34 and longitudinally extending members 35 all integrally joined. The longitudinally extending members 35 are bowed or of an open V formation presenting bends at 36. It is the bends at 36 which engage the glass pane 33. The end members 34 normally bear against the end abutments 27 to provide the backing for the spring.

To remove the glass pane 33 the operator presses inwardly on one of the end members 34, convenient access thereto being had because of the presence of the recesses 20. This downward pressure is continued until the particular end member of the spring being worked upon passes the shoulder 22. That end of the spring may then be moved sidewise in the space between this shoulder and the flange I5. Just as soon as this movement has been continued to the extent sufficient to free the other end member 34 of the spring from the end abutments 27 the spring will fly outwardly into the broken line position depicted in Figure 2 whereupon it will fall free of the holder.

The glass pane 33 may now be shifted longitudinally of the frame so that when one end is moved outwardly it will clear the end abutments 21 and thereby be completely removed.

In positioning the glass pane 33 one end is first inserted and moved completely to one end of the frame so that its other end will pass the end abutments 21. After it is positioned against the inner face of the flange [5 the spring S is positioned by inserting either end member into the recess between one shoulder 22 and the flange I5 after which the other end of the spring is positioned beneath the end abutments 21 at the opposite end. This positioning will bring the end first inserted out of engagement with the shoulder 22 and into engagement with the end abutments 21, thereby providing balanced backing for the spring. V

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms, and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In head protective equipment of the character described, a glass holder comprising a metallic frame having a rectangularly shaped wall structure carrying an inwardly extending flange defining a rectangularly shaped window opening, a glass pane having its marginal edges engaging the inner face of said flange, an insert having a wall structure comprising side, upper and lower walls received within the wall structure of said metallic frame, the inner edges of said side walls being spaced from said flange to provide recesses therebetween, a pair of spaced inwardly extending abutments carried by each side Wall with said abutments having inner faces spaced from said flange of said metallic frame a greater distance than the inner edges of said side Walls, a rectangularly shaped leaf spring having side members normally engaging said side abutments and longitudinally extending members, of a wide open V formation providing bends engaging said glass pane to urge the latter against said flange, and means for assembling said frame and insert.

2. In head protective equipment of the character described, a glass holder comprising an outer frame having a rectangularly shaped wall structure carrying an inwardly extending flange defining a rectangulary shaped window opening, a glass pane having its marginal edges engaging the inner face of said flange, an inner frame having a wall structure comprising side, upper and lower walls received within the wall structure of said outer frame, the inner edges of said side walls being spaced from said flange to provide recesses therebetween, a pair of spaced inwardly extending abutments carried by each side wall with said abutments having inner faces spaced from said flange of said outer frame a greater distance than the inner edges of said side walls, a rectangularly shaped leaf spring having side members normally engaging said side abutments and longitudinally extending members, of a Wide open V formation providing bends engaging said glass pane to urge the latter against said flange, and means for joining said frames with the edge portions of a face shield defining a window opening clamped therebetween.

3. In head protective equipment of the character described, a glass holder comprising a metallic frame having a rectangularly shaped wall structure carrying an inwardly extending flange defining a rectangularly shaped window opening, and a base flange extending outwardly from said wall structure, a glass pane having its marginal edges engaging the inner face of said flange, an insert having a wall structure comprising side, upper and lower walls received within the wall structure of said metallic frame, the inner edges of said side walls being spaced from said flange to provide recesses therebetween, a pair of spaced inwardly extending abutments carried by each side wall with said abutments having inner faces spaced from said flange of said metallic frame a greater distance than the inner edges of said side walls, a base flange extending outwardly from the wall structure of said insert in spaced relation with respect to the base flange of said metallic frame, a rectangularly shaped leaf spring having end members normally engaging said side abutments and longitudinally extending members, of a wide open V formation providing bends engaging said glass pane to urge the latter against said flange, the end edge at each corner of the wall structure of said insert being formed with a closed threaded socket, an opening in each corner of the first-mentioned flange of said metallic frame in alignment with one of said sockets, and a headed screw fastener passing through each of said openings and threaded into the socket in alignment therewith. l

4. In a glass holder of the character described, a frame member having an inwardly extending flange, a glass pane engaging one face of said flange, a second frame member having a wall structure received within said first frame member with said wall structure including side walls having inner faces spaced from said flange, a pair of inwardly extending spaced end abutments carried by each of said side walls, and a leaf spring having side members normally engaging said side abutments and central bend portions engaging said glass pane, said spring being susceptible of manipulation whereby one end member may be moved inwardly past the end face of the side wall thereat and then laterally into the space between said side wall and flange to release said spring.

EDMOND B. MAILLART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,260,849 Bowers Oct. 28, 1941 2,378,887 Whipple et al June 19, 1945 

